Pile-protecting device.



'C. F. LOCKWOOD.

PILE PROTECTING DEVICE- APPUCATION FILED MAR. 14, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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CHARLES F. LOCKWOOD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO ERNEST B. MURPHY AND ONE-THIRD T0 JESSE IM. THOMPSON, BOTH OF SAN FRAN- CISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FILE-PROTECTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. LOCK- woon, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Pile-Protecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for protecting piles and similar structures submerged in salt water from the injurious depredations of the teredo or ship-worm, the object of the invention being to provide a protecting device which surrounds the pile and is adapted to rise and fall with the tide and is provided with scraping means, whereby the pile will be brushed or cleaned of all foreign substances adhering thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pile protector which is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in action, and which may be produced and sold at a comparatively low cost.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pile with the protector. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the protector detached. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a cross section through the protector.

The device comprises an annular body or float 1, composed of superposed sections 2 and 3, united in any suitable manner. Both of these sections may be made of wood or other buoyant material, or, if desired, the lower section 1 may consist of a disk of metal and the upper section 2 of wood or other buoyant material adapted to sustain the protector as a whole on the surface of a body of water.

The sections 1 and 2 are provided with alined vertical openings 3 for the passage of the pile 4, about which the protector is designed to be arranged, so that in use the protector will lie upon the surface of the body of water in which the pile is submerged and will rise and fall with the tide, so that it will move up and down on the surface of the pile.

Between the sections 1 and 2 of the protector are disposed brushes or scrapers 5, which may be composed of ratan or other Specification of Letters Patent. P t t 6 1915;

Application filed March 14, 1914.

Serial No. 824,771.

broom material, wires or other suitable elements. These extend all around the opening 3 and project radially thereinto and are adapted to engage the surface of the pile, so that as the protector rises and falls the brush material will clean and scrape the same free from all accumulated deposits, thus removing all teredos or other insects adhering to the pile as well as other foreign matter, keeping the pile free and clear from pests of the character described.

In practice, the upper section 2 of the protector may be made hollow or rabbeted for a portion of its depth, so that a considerable amount of the brush material may be held inclosed therein and clamped against the member 1, thereby providing a comparatively large amount of brush material for efficient action on the pile. In practice the protector sections 1 and 2 may be detachably united by fastenings 6, allowing the scraping or brush material to be replaced whenever it becomes worn with fresh material, enabling the protector to be kept in constant service at a low cost.

. By making the lower section 1 of the protector of greater diameter than the upper section 2, and the latter of greater depth than the section 1, a protector is provided which, while not of objectionable size, has sufficient area afiorded by the section 1 for the action of the water thereon, while the section 2 being of greater depth gives ade quate buoyancy provides for the reception of a comparatively large amount of the brush material 5 and also provides a buoyant portion of adequate capacity to sustain the weight of the device as a whole on the body of water.

It will thus be seen that the protector comprises an upper ring shaped float member of restricted diameter to some considerable depth, and a weighted annular balancing member which is of minimum depth but of greater diameter than the float member to weight the device to the exact degree desired, as well as to provide a device of sufficient area for the action of the water thereon in the rise and fall of the tide or breakers to effect an efiicient reciprocation of the device along the pile. Furthermore, the annular float and balancing members serve as clamping elements by which the brush material is secured therebetween in such a manner as to provide for the replenishment of the brush material Whenever required, the conveniences of Which Will be manifest.

, The device in practice is, in addition to the foregoing advantages, of suflicient Weight so that as it falls by gravity a vigorous brushing 0r scraping action of the scrapers 5 Will be set up to scrape the pile clear of all matter adhering thereto.

I claim A pile protecting device comprising an annular float member, a Weighted balancing member beneath the float member, said float member being of less diameter and greater depth than the balancing member and provided in its underside With an annular rabbet or recess, the openings in said member being in registry, brush material arranged Within the recess of the float member and between said member and balancing member and projecting therefrom into the openings in the members, and fastening means extending through said members and holding the same assembled and the brush material clamped.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. LOCKlVOOD. lVitnesses:

LEWIS J. LocKWooD, HARRY E. Loonwoon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

